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Council introduces ordinance adopting 2025 California building code with local amendments, including EV charging and insulation rules
Summary
The council voted unanimously to introduce by title and schedule a second reading of a local ordinance to adopt the 2025 California Building Code with city‑specific amendments covering insulation verification, battery‑ready circuits and restrictions on EV chargers in certain parking structures and garages.
City building staff presented the first reading of a local ordinance to adopt the 2025 California Building Code with local amendments and the council voted unanimously to introduce it by title and schedule a second reading.
Building staff explained several significant statewide code changes and the city’s proposed local amendments. “Quality insulation inspection — third‑party verification is required on every single cavity,” the building official said, describing a new state requirement for third‑party inspection of insulation installations. Staff also described a new “battery ready” requirement that anticipates future home battery systems and asked builders to provide four circuits and 60 amps of available capacity for transfer‑switch connection even if batteries are not installed immediately.
City fire officials asked the council to adopt local limits on EV chargers in enclosed parking. Fire Marshal Paul Patty told the council that they seek to prohibit EV chargers in below‑grade parking garages and in parking structures that are part of buildings, citing safety concerns and firefighting resources. “A typical EV fire takes over 10,000 gallons of water,” Patty said, and because EV fires can burn for extended periods and produce toxic gases that can populate ventilation systems, the fire department prefers exterior charging locations for many commercial or shared parking scenarios.
Staff also discussed fire department connections and a proposed change to reduce water waste and thread damage during routine testing by using clamped connections rather than threaded fittings on fire department connection components.
Deputy building officials noted that the 2025 California model codes will take effect statewide on Jan. 1 and recommended the local ordinance’s first reading so the city can adopt targeted local rules on top of the state code. Councilmember Chris Gregory moved to introduce the ordinance by title only and set a second reading and public hearing pursuant to Government Code section 6066; the motion passed unanimously (Gregory moved; Beal seconded). The city did not adopt the ordinance at final reading on Oct. 7; staff will return with the required second reading and public hearing.
